The national government has invested massively in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector escalating students’ enrollment to these institutions by over 600 per cent since 2013.
The Principal Secretary, State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Dr. Margaret Mwakima said during a tour in Kisumu National Polytechnic, where she officiated a capacity building workshop for the governing council and senior management staff on effective oversight and management of TVET.
The state has invested multi billions to equip the 238 TVET colleges in the country with modern facilities in terms of infrastructure and highly skilled trainers to improve the quality of education offered in TVET and bridge the country’s skills gap.
Mwakima said since the beginning of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in 2013 to date, the number of TVET institutions has shot up by over 450 per cent in a bid to enhance access, equity and quality of TVET education.
According to the state official, the Ministry of Education is working round the clock to establish a Technical Trainers Service Council that would develop a human resource policy and address salaries, training and promotions of the educators. Technical trainers were transferred from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to the Public Service Commission (PSC) in 2018.
She urged the staff to be patient and offer the best as the ministry has initiated plans to increase the number of trainers that would reduce pressure on human resources.
Mwakima defended the Competence Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum applied in the National Polytechnics, Vocational Training Centers and Technical Training Institutes.
“CBET courses offer hands on skills training that is relevant for the labour market and internationally competitive workforce,” she said.
The CBET system is based on an industry and business demand-led model and established, approved and industry-validated occupational standards for all vocational jobs and trades.